Summary: 'You're the only truth I know, you're the road back home.' After years apart, Andros and Ashley can finally start building their life together with their children. Sequel to Secrets Untold.
Phantom Rogue: Yeah, Andros is definitely sweet. But then again, he should be.
PrettyDiva: Thanks, please do go on about Andros, I'll need a bucket, but please do. (the bucket is to catch the drool) I have to agree with you on being jealous of Ash. I've been very tempted to just dump her into the nearest black hole and claim Andros for myself. Here's more.
Lavonne Adams: Yeah, Ash definitely is.
Johnny: I'm not opening my mouth about the baby. Yeah, Chris should be very happy.
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- Yes, I should do this to you, it's fun! Here's the chapter you've been longing to read. Yes, Noah's all yours, happy now?
Tal: Yeah, but you know what's going to happen, I think I told you. Please don't say a thing about it. I'm really sorry I had to do this, but it gives me a clear way to the end of the story.
SweetSas: I believe we need to clone Andros more then just 5 times… and I get the original, we'll just dump a clone at Ashley's.
Star Fata: Glad you liked it. Here's more.
Zeopurple: Not saying a thing. Enjoy this chapter.
C.C.C.: Yeah, they were. Andros is an Angel, there's no doubt about that.
Puasluoma: I'm not saying anything about the baby. You'll just have to wait.
Blue-ranger-sky: Not telling.
Slytherin-Angel44: Here's the next chapter. No need to wait any longer.
The-power-of-love: Here's more.
Jmr2: Glad you like them. Thanks, I'm planning on giving writing a shot to get me some money, but yeah, who knows. Here's the next chapter.
Living Truth
Chapter 21: Burned
"Okay… why are you lighting the fire?" Chris asked puzzled as he watched Andros start a fire in the hearth. "Mom always told us it was just for show."
"Sit down and we'll tell you." Ashley sighed.
"Does that also include why you've been acting strange since we came home?" Chyler inquired.
Ashley nodded sadly and watched her children sit down. Andros had already put Noah to bed before dinner. Heavily, she sat down across from them. Andros seated himself with the three, pulling Danne onto his lap. She had told him to when they had discussed how to tell the children. No matter how much she wanted his support, she knew she had to do this on her own.
"I'm pregnant." She told them plainly and straight to the point, relieved that none of them reacted severely.
"Is that… bad?" Danne asked tentatively.
"There's a good chance James might be the father." Ashley sighed, looking over at the flames. "When I found out… I filed for a divorce." Her voice dropped to a whisper and a single tear threatened to fall.
"Does that mean we'll be packing our bags again?" Danne asked sadly.
Before Ashley could answer though, Chris had jumped up, looking furious.
"You promised you'd work it out!" He yelled. "You promised nothing would come between you! I don't want to lose my dad again! If he's leaving, I'm going with him. I won't let anyone take him away from me again, not even you!"
With that he stormed out of the room and moments later they heard his bedroom door slam shut.
"I'll go talk to him." Andros sighed and Danne slipped off his lap so he could follow her brother.
To add to Ashley's discomfort Noah's cries were heard but a moment later. Obviously Chris had awoken him when he slammed the door. They quieted a moment later though and Ashley suspected Andros had picked him up on his way to Chris.
"Chris does have a point, mom." Chyler sighed, tears shining in her eyes. "If you divorce, we'll probably choose to live with dad."
"Just because I had a moment of weakness, doesn't mean your dad gave into it." Ashley sighed, ignoring the faint sting of betrayal. "We're not getting divorced. That fire is to burn the papers."
"Then what's going to happen?" Danne asked as she curled up against Chyler.
"Well, I want to know who the father is as soon as possible, but I don't want any invasive procedures." Ashley said softly, though she was heard perfectly.
"Understandable." Chyler agreed.
"On Earth that would mean we'd have to wait for the baby to be born…" Ashley explained.
"But on KO-35?" Chyler pressed on.
"Sixth month of pregnancy." Ashley informed bluntly. "But I don't want to wait those months out here. I couldn't take the stares and words of sympathy…"
"We're going to KO-35?" Danne guessed, a little too eagerly.
"At least until we know who the father is, maybe longer, definitely if James is the father." Ashley answered. "Zhane and Karone are arranging a house for us and getting you all registered in school for the time we'll be there."
"Chris will love that." Chyler murmured softly and Danne giggled.
Right at that moment the living-room door opened again and Andros returned, a sleepy Noah perched on his hip and a sheepish Chris on his heels. The older boy quickly walked over to Ashley and hugged her tightly.
"Sorry I overreacted, mom." He told her quietly, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"You just don't want to give up your father now you've finally got him in your life." She told him. "I understand – I- sorry I wasn't telling the story right."
"No, I should've stayed and listened. I should've known dad wouldn't let you go that easily." He grinned knowingly.
Ashley opened her mouth to contradict him, but Andros quickly cut her off, knowing they'd be at it for the rest of the evening if he didn't do something.
"Are you going to keep apologizing or are we going to burn those papers?" He asked loudly.
"Burn those papers!" The children cried happily in unison, gleefully clapping their hands.
Andros gave the papers to Chris after handing Noah to Ashley. The little boy immediately curled up in her arms and stared at the fire with sleepy, but fascinated eyes. Chris looked at his parents for a moment, before grinning wickedly and feeding the papers into the fire.
They watched it shrivel up and blacken, slowly dissolving into the ashes of what might have been a ruined life. Noah yawned and turned his head, falling asleep curled up against Ashley's still flat stomach.
"Shall I put him back to bed?" Chris offered. "It's my fault he was awake in the first place."
"No, I don't mind. Just let him sleep here for a while. I'll put him to bed when we're turning in ourselves." Ashley smiled, stroking her infant son's silk soft, stripey hair.
A week later
"So… you're leaving tomorrow morning, right?" Nicky asked as he walked down the beach with Chyler, kicking up some sand.
"Yeah." Chyler replied softly. "Chris would be here, but Leigh called just as we were about to leave. She wanted to know if he really was coming back so soon already."
"And once Leigh calls, Chris can't be beat from that comm system even when using a solid steel bar." Nicky joked with a laugh and Chyler nodded giggling. He sobered. "So when are you coming back?"
"Maybe in a few months when we know who the father is. Definitely sometime after the baby is born." Chyler sighed.
"Things won't be the same without you." Nicky told her quietly.
"You'll survive, you've always got a punching bag to pound on." She replied weakly. "At least that doesn't kick your butt every time." Chyler replied teasingly.
"That's not what I meant." He said softly, suddenly stopping dead in his tracks.
"What did you mean then?" Chyler asked lightly as she turned to look at him.
Suddenly Nicky pressed his lips to hers for a few brief seconds. When the kiss was broken he turned on his heels and quickly ran away. Dazed, Chyler lifted her hand to touch her lips. It wasn't her first kiss, but it was the first that actually made her feel like she was being electrified.
Suddenly she shook her head clear and silently cursed herself.
"Don't be silly." She scowled at herself. "Nicky is just a friend. Nothing more than that."
A/N: Hope you liked it. Told ya I'd torture Chyler a little. REVIEW!